Upgrade Your Culinary Space: The Top 7 Smart Kitchen Devices for the Modern Home
One of the leading rooms in your home that is making your home smart is the kitchen. The modern kitchen has evolved from a mere space for meal preparation into a hub of technology and convenience. Smart kitchen devices bring sophistication to your home and offer many practical benefits, from energy efficiency to enhanced food safety. Here, we explore seven top-notch connected devices that can transform your culinary space into a smart kitchen, with examples from leading manufacturers.
1. Smart Refrigerator: Samsung Family Hub
When it comes to smart refrigerators, most people think a tablet on the door makes the appliance smart. We can tell you that is not the case. It's more than placing a tablet or touchscreen on a refrigerator's door to make these appliances smart. Smart refrigerators offer a range of benefits that enhance both convenience and efficiency in the kitchen. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Food Management Features: They come with inventory tracking capabilities, allowing you to monitor what's inside your fridge from anywhere via your smartphone. This can help reduce food waste by alerting you to items about to expire.
- Remote Monitoring and Control: Access your fridge settings from your smartphone. Adjust temperatures, receive alerts if the door is open, or activate energy-saving modes without being physically present.
- Integration with Smart Home Systems: Many smart refrigerators can be integrated with other smart home devices and systems, allowing for a more cohesive and automated home environment. For example, your fridge can add items to a shopping list on your smart home hub or voice assistant.
- Enhanced User Interface: With touchscreens and intuitive interfaces, smart fridges can display recipes, stream music or TV shows, display family calendars, and even showcase family photos, adding a digital hub to your kitchen.
- Energy Efficiency: Smart refrigerators often have features that enhance energy efficiency, such as alerts for open doors or the ability to enter a more energy-efficient mode based on usage patterns, which can help reduce electricity bills.
- Shopping Convenience: Integration with grocery shopping apps and services can allow you to order groceries directly from your fridge's interface, streamlining your shopping process and saving time.
- Health and Diet Integration: Some smart refrigerators can help you track your dietary goals by monitoring the types of food you store and suggesting recipes based on your health and nutritional objectives.
These benefits highlight how smart refrigerators are evolving beyond simple food storage devices into integral components of the connected home, adding convenience, efficiency, and a touch of fun to daily kitchen routines.
Who makes a good smart refrigerator? The Samsung Family Hub represents the pinnacle of refrigeration technology. It redefines kitchen functionality with a built-in touchscreen that allows you to manage groceries, connect with your family, and even mirror your Samsung TV or smartphone. Its internal cameras let you peek inside from anywhere via your smartphone, making grocery shopping a breeze. With the Family Hub, Samsung has created a refrigerator and crafted a cutting-edge kitchen assistant.
If you don't want a touchscreen on your smart refrigerator, look at smart refrigerators by LG, GE Profiler, and Dacor, a Samsung-owned company that makes high-end smart appliances. Dacor appliances come with the same touchscreen and connectivity in Samsun Galaxy smartphones. The appliances are top-of-the-line in design, but the cost is high.
See Pricing on all Samsung Smart Refrigerators
2. Smart Dishwasher: Bosch 800 Series
Smart dishwashers bring innovation and convenience to dishwashing chores, offering several benefits that enhance efficiency, ease of use, and overall user experience. Here are the main advantages:
- Remote Control and Monitoring: With Wi-Fi connectivity, smart dishwashers can be controlled and monitored from anywhere via a smartphone app. This means you can start, pause, or check the status of a wash cycle while you're away from home, ensuring your dishes are clean exactly when needed.
- Energy and Water Efficiency: Smart dishwashers often come equipped with sensors that assess the load's size and soil level, adjusting water usage and temperature for optimal cleaning with minimal waste. This can lead to significant savings on water and energy bills and contribute to environmental conservation.
- Customizable Cycles: Users can download or customize washing cycles to suit different types of dishes and levels of soiling. This flexibility ensures that everything from delicate glassware to heavily soiled pots and pans can be cleaned effectively without the need for pre-rinsing or hand-washing.
- Maintenance Alerts and Self-Diagnostics: Smart dishwashers can send alerts for tasks like adding rinse aid, salt for water softening, or cleaning a filter. They can also perform self-diagnostics to alert you about potential issues before they become serious, simplifying maintenance and avoiding downtime.
- Voice Control: Integration with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant allows for hands-free operation. Users can start a wash cycle, check the remaining time, or perform other functions through simple voice commands.
- Improved Drying Techniques: Many smart dishwashers use advanced drying technologies, such as automatic door opening at the end of a cycle or extra fans, to improve drying efficiency and prevent water spots, ensuring dishes come out ready to use.
- Load Sensing and Auto-Dosing: Some models feature load sensing to optimize water and energy usage based on the number of dishes. At the same time, auto-dosing functions can automatically dispense the correct amount of detergent for the load, ensuring optimal cleaning results and avoiding waste.
- Quiet Operation: Smart dishwashers often emphasize reduced noise levels, making them ideal for open-plan homes or for running at night without disturbing sleep. Smartphone notifications can alert you when the cycle is complete, eliminating the need for audible signals.
By offering enhanced functionality, connectivity, and efficiency, smart dishwashers represent a significant upgrade over traditional models. They bring convenience and cost savings to the daily task of dish cleaning.
Who makes a good smart dishwasher? Dishwashing becomes an almost effortless task with the Bosch 800 Series. Equipped with Home Connect, these smart dishwashers can be controlled and monitored remotely through a smartphone app. They feature precision spray arms and advanced sensors that adjust the cycle for the perfect wash. With voice control capabilities through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, starting a wash cycle is as simple as a spoken command.
3. Smart Oven with Built-in Air Fryer: GE Profile Smart Air Fry Oven
Smart ovens with built-in air fryers combine the functionality of a traditional oven with the convenience and health benefits of an air fryer, offering a versatile and efficient cooking experience. Here are some benefits:
- Versatility: These appliances can bake, roast, broil, and air fry, offering a wide range of cooking methods in one device. This reduces the need for multiple kitchen appliances, saving space and money.
- Convenience: Many smart ovens feature Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to remotely control and monitor their oven via a smartphone app. This means you can preheat your oven on your way home or adjust settings without interrupting other tasks.
- Precision Cooking: Smart ovens often come with preset cooking programs for various dishes, ensuring optimal cooking temperatures and times. This precision helps in achieving consistent and delicious results every time.
- Energy Efficiency: Compared to traditional ovens, smart ovens with an air fryer function can cook food faster and more efficiently, potentially leading to energy savings.
- Healthier Cooking: Air fryers use significantly less oil than traditional deep frying, offering a more nutritious alternative without sacrificing the taste and texture of fried food. This means you can enjoy your favorite dishes with fewer calories and less fat.
- Ease of Use and Cleaning: These appliances often have non-stick surfaces and dishwasher-safe components, making cleanup more straightforward than conventional ovens and standalone air fryers.
- Smart Features include voice control through smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, integration with recipe apps that automatically adjust cooking settings, and notifications when food is ready.
The GE Profile Smart Air Fry Oven is a culinary game-changer, combining traditional oven functionality with the popular air frying technique. It allows you to bake, broil, and fry with less oil, all controlled via an app or voice command. Preheating your oven remotely or adjusting cook times becomes second nature, offering unparalleled convenience for busy lifestyles.
Others include KitchenAid Smart Oven+, LG Smart Wall Oven with Convection and Air Fry, Samsung, and Dacor.
See Pricing for GE Profile Smart Oven at Best Buy
4. Smart Faucet: U by Moen Smart Faucets
Smart faucets bring a combination of convenience, efficiency, and hygiene to the modern kitchen or bathroom, offering several benefits over traditional faucets:
- Water Conservation: Equipped with motion sensors, smart faucets dispense water only when needed, reducing unnecessary water flow and helping save on water bills. Some models also allow you to preset volumes of water, ensuring only the required amount is used, further enhancing conservation efforts.
- Touchless Operation: Motion sensors enable hands-free operation, which is convenient when hands are dirty or full and promotes better hygiene by reducing the spread of germs and bacteria.
- Temperature Control and Safety: Many smart faucets offer instant and precise control over water temperature, displayed via an LED indicator. This can prevent accidental burns and ensure that water is always at the desired temperature for comfort and safety.
- Voice and App Control: Integration with smart home systems allows for voice-controlled operation through devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enabled devices or via smartphone apps. This feature can be handy for tasks such as filling a pot to a specified level without manual monitoring.
- Durability and Quality: Smart faucets are often designed with high-quality materials and advanced technology to ensure durability and longevity, making them a valuable investment for the home.
- Customization and Convenience Features: Beyond basic functionalities, smart faucets may include features like LED temperature displays, customizable settings for different tasks, and water usage tracking, which can help manage household water consumption more effectively.
Manufacturers of Smart Faucets: Several renowned brands have ventured into the smart faucet market, each offering unique features designed to enhance the user experience in the kitchen and bathroom. Some notable manufacturers include:
- Delta: Known for their Touch2O technology, Delta offers faucets that respond to touch and voice commands, with various styles and finishes to suit different home decors. Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, it offers a seamless addition to any smart home, ensuring hygiene and efficiency with just a simple command.
- Moen: Moen's smart faucets feature touchless operation, customizable presets, and voice control through their U by Moen platform, making them a leader in smart home water solutions.
- Kohler: Kohler's smart kitchen faucets come with voice control and Konnect technology, allowing for hands-free operation, monitored water usage, and temperature setting adjustments.
See pricing on U by Moen Smart Faucen Collection at The Home Depot
5. Smart Water Monitoring Device: Phyn Smart Assistant
Who makes good smart water monitoring devices? Phyn Smart Assistant is a self-installed water monitor that goes under a single sink, immediately notifies you if a leak is detected anywhere in your home, and provides detailed insights into how each fixture in your home uses water. It can even monitor the hot and cold valves underneath your kitchen sink. It uses ultrasonic technology to monitor water usage and provide insights into your consumption. Integrated with Alexa, controlling your water systems has never been smarter or safer.
Flo by Moen and Kohler H2Wise make other suitable smart water monitoring devices. And if you know if your smart home security system is powered by Alarm.com, you can get the best of both worlds. Phyn and Kohler H2Wise work with the Alarm.com smart home security system. (Note: You will need to check with your home security system to see if it is powered by Alarm.com products.)
6. Smart Meat Thermometer: MEATER Plus 2
Precision cooking is essential for meat lovers, and a smart meat thermometer ensures your steak is always perfectly cooked. Many are completely wireless and communicate with a smartphone app to monitor the temperature, offering estimates on cooking time and rest periods for various types of meat. This smart kitchen gadget takes the guesswork out of grilling or roasting, promising a perfect meal with minimal fuss.
Who makes a good smart meat thermometer? For those passionate about precision cooking, leading the charge in innovative culinary technology are brands like Yummly, Meater,MeatStick, and ThermoPro. Yummly offers intuitive devices that pair with an app for guided cooking, ensuring your meat is perfectly done every time. Meater and it's line of smart meat thermometers (like Meater Block) boasts a completely wireless experience, allowing you to monitor your cook from anywhere. MeatStick is renowned for its durability and versatility, designed to withstand various cooking environments. ThermoPro rounds out the group with highly accurate and reliable thermometers that cater to both casual cooks and culinary professionals. Together, these brands set the standard for achieving flawless results in the kitchen, making them top picks for anyone looking to master their meat preparation skills. GearBrain recommends any smart meat thermometer from these companies, as long as it fits your cooking needs.
7. Smart Coffee Maker: Keurig K-Supreme Plus SMART
One of the first smart devices to hit kitchens years ago was the smart coffee maker. Many early-adopters started off taking a smart plug and connecting it to their Mr. Coffee maker. They would use the smart plug app to have the power go on at a certain time of the morning so the coffee wold be ready to go when they entered into the kitchen. Today, a smart coffee maker does more than just transform your morning routine into a seamless, sophisticated experience. With the ability to schedule brewing times, customize strength and temperature settings, and even start your coffee brew from your smartphone, a smart coffee maker ensures your perfect cup of coffee is ready exactly when you need it. It caters to the nuanced preferences of each family member, offering a personalized touch to every cup. Moreover, integration with smart home systems allows for voice-controlled convenience, making it easier than ever to manage your morning without the rush. Whether you're still in bed or heading back home, a smart coffee maker adds a layer of modern luxury and efficiency to any kitchen, ensuring you start your day right, every day.
Who makes a good smart coffee maker? We recommend you take a look at the Keurig K-Supreme Plus SMART coffee maker. It offers a personalized brewing experience. It features BrewID technology, which recognizes the specific K-cup pod and tailors the brew settings to the coffee varietal. With the Keurig app, you can schedule your morning brew, customize the strength and temperature, and even start brewing from anywhere in your home. It's a must-have for those who take their caffeine seriously.
Other smart coffee makers to consider are from Hamilton Beach, iCoffee, Nespresso (Vertuo Pop+), Spinn Pro, and Café Smart Drip.
Summary
Upgrading your kitchen with smart appliances injects a dose of high-tech into your daily routine and contributes to a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and convenient lifestyle. Each of these devices represents the forefront of kitchen technology, providing solutions that cater to the diverse needs of modern households. While the initial cost may be higher than traditional appliances, the long-term benefits—ranging from cost savings on utility bills to the joys of culinary perfection—make the investment worthwhile. Embracing these smart kitchen devices ensures that your home stays connected, modern, and ready for the future of home cooking.
Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility find engine. It can help you find, buy, and connect any smart device including smart appliances. It can even help you find other smart devices or systems that are compatible with your existing smart devices, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.
